Your reputation is your first impression

Getting and keeping quality employment in the twenty-first century is about more than what you know. Employment now is about how you got there, what your value added is, and how you impact the bottom line. If you are a seeker or long settled in your field, your reputation will weigh heavily on your success.

For individuals, your reputation picks up where your resume leaves off. A resume is information, designed to sell you, created by you. The problem is that people have grown used to being sold, and more and more employers turn to the web to research their current and prospective employees. Have you ever considered what they might find about you?

There was a day when businesses had to hire investigators or research firms to find information, which deterred them. In the age of search engines, employers consider themselves amateur investigators. Most people have a few pieces of information readily available online, from basic demographic details to any news where their name was used. Even a document you worked on that lives on a former employer's website can associate you with that company long after you leave.

Many people feel safe because they have never been in the news and their social media accounts are password protected. Much of social media is still indexed by search engines, though. A search for your name can return a photo tagged on a friend's page, or posts others have made referencing you. Suddenly, things feel a little out of your grasp.

The bottom line is that everyone could benefit from work on their reputation. Just as companies form committees to look at lean procedures and productivity, everyone should make sure they look as strong as possible. We will highlight your positives and help remove incorrect information so you present your reputation at its best.

Can you really afford to be without reputation management?